River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-11-24
RARNuM.s CIRCUS BURNED.

The Great shows Winter Quarters Gt
bridgeport, Conn. Furnishes High Car
nival for the Fire Eiend-Many Valuable
Animals, Among them the Sacred White
Elephant, Consumed-Others Escape,
Creating Havock in the streets.
BRIDoEPoRT, Conn.,, Nov 2L-The main
building of Barnum & Bailey's Greatest
Show on EARTH was entirely destroyed by
IRE last evening About 1890 o'clock an
alarm was sounded, quickly followed by
general alarm, and thousands OF people
We're drawn TO the spot In less than thirty
minutes the large building, which was 600
by 900 feet and two stories in height, was
entirely consumed The Lrss iEt.,nation OF
the ire was given by the roaring % the
lions and tigers. which seemed to realize
the impending danger Next the elephants
struggled in their chains, but in an incredi-
bly, short time the flames swept from one end
of the huge structure 20 the other There
were six watchmon employed on the prem
Uses, but they were helpless to check the
flames Five OF the watchmen have report
ed, but one is missing. the upper portion
of the building was filed with hay and all
the pEraphernalia Of the great show. efore
the first alarm ceased sounding the " hoie
building was enyeloped in fire, and no one
dared TO approach the building, being fear
fu! of the crazsd animals
Three elephants were burned up and
thirty-six broke from their fasgenings
and dashed through the sides of tie
burning building. Their rOars and trum-
pe6ings and sounds OF torment were ter
rihc. Six elephants and a large African
hippopotlmus rushed about the sire It's pre-
senuing a sickening appearances Thsir
sides were burned and great pieces of flesh
a foot square fell off Thirty elephants and
one large lion made their escape and have
starte off across the country toward Fair
field and Easton
Great alarm has seized many resuents OF
the west end, and they have taken refuge
within their houses with Windows barred
William Newman, the elephant train
er, is ont OF town, and the keepers
We're not able IN TIE excitement
to herd the frightened animals. In the
horse-roOm We're al ting ring animals,
trained stations, ponies etc These were
al burned In the upper rooms were the
tents, poles, seats, harness, etc, for the en-
tire show, ana these too were all
destroyed In the cat-room were
tho birds, monkeys, three rhi-
noceroses, hyenas tigers lions, and al
the menagerie watch fell prey to the
flames. SO rapidly did the flames leap
across the main build ng that tn iiremen
made 40 attempt TO save 1t, but turned
their streams upon the chariot buildings
and car sheds, which they succeeded in
saving but the heat was so intense that
this was accomplished with the greatest diff
ficulty
The watohman making his round discoy-
cred the fire and started to gave the alarm,
when some unknown person hit him on the
head with a blunt instrument, fell
ing him to the ground and cutting
a number of sewers gashes in his head
He staggered to his feet and gave the alarm,
enabling the other watchmen in the
building, who were preparing for bed, TO
escape One of the three elephants burned
was the famous sacred wnlte elephant
The lion, which the police attemp ed TO Kill
at the time the fire broke out was after
ward found in barn devouring a cow
which he had killed He was saot At a.
m the fire was out
The total loss is estimated at 500. 900,
upon which there was but 100000 insur-
ance. Before the building went down Bar
NUNS agents We're busy making arrange
ments for obtaining new lot OF attrac-
tions to supply the loss. Mr.. Brothwel,
Barnum's Bridgeport agent, said that the
show building wouldabe rebuilt, but not in
Bridgeport The great show would prob
ably go 10 Jersey City, where gTeager rail-
road facilities could be had.